Dr. Kwekuche Ackah, a crop scientist at the University of Cape Coast, has called for Ghana to explore low-cost materials to promote the sustainability of greenhouse farming technology. He expressed concerns over the collapse of government-backed greenhouse projects initiated under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme, attributing their failure to high operational costs and the lack of viable markets for the produce.
The PFJ Greenhouse farming initiative, launched before the 2020 elections, aimed to boost food security and job creation through advanced farming techniques. Greenhouses are specially designed structures that create controlled environments for crop cultivation, shielding plants from pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions such as drought and heavy rains. These structures allow farmers to regulate temperature, humidity, and light, providing ideal growing conditions that can improve crop yields and support year-round farming.
Dr. Ackah noted that although significant investments were made in these greenhouse projects, most of them have either been abandoned or collapsed. “There is not much to show for these projects,” he said, pointing out that the high costs of materials used to build and maintain greenhouses were a major factor in their downfall. The lack of market opportunities for farmers to sell their produce further contributed to the failure.
In addition to the cost and market challenges, Dr. Ackah highlighted inadequate training for farmers as another key issue. Many farmers involved in the PFJ greenhouse projects lacked the necessary skills to operate and manage greenhouses effectively, which hampered the overall success of the initiative.
Looking forward, Dr. Ackah recommended that any government effort to reintroduce greenhouse farming should be grounded in research aimed at identifying affordable, yet effective, materials to reduce operational costs. He emphasized that reducing the financial burden on farmers would make greenhouse farming more accessible and sustainable.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of providing farmers with proper training and technical support. “The success of greenhouse farming depends not only on affordability but also on adequate preparation,” Dr. Ackah said. He called for a more comprehensive approach that includes developing reliable market opportunities to ensure farmers can sell their produce easily and profitably.
